MMDA: Metro Manila traffic to get worse ahead of holiday rush

Traffic woes in Metro Manila are set to worsen ahead of the Christmas holidays as more vehicles are expected to pass through EDSA even compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to transport officials.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said that an average of 417,000 vehicles passed through EDSA on a daily basis as of November 24, higher than the pre-pandemic level of 405,000.

This is expected to climb to as high as 430,000 leading up to the holiday season, with the MMDA expecting a 10% to 20% increase in traffic volume.

“Despite that, ang atin pong average speed sa EDSA ay almost 16 kilometers per hour, na mas mabilis sa pre-pandemic level na about 11 kilometers per hour,” Artes said in Saleema Refran's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

[Despite that, the average speed in EDSA is almost 16 kilometers per hour, faster than the pre-pandemic level of about 11 kilometers per hour.]

A study made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2015 found that economic losses due to gridlock plaguing the streets of Metro Manila was then estimated at P3 billion a day, and could reach P6 billion a day by 2030 without intervention.

Transport officials have since made adjustments, such as the EDSA Bus Carousel project of the Department of Tourism (DOTr), a bus rapid transit line with a dedicated lane in the country’s busiest thoroughfare.

The MMDA has also ordered mall operators to adjust their operating hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and suspend roadworks, pipe laying, road upgrading, and all other excavation works to address the traffic congestion.

Just last Friday, GMA news anchor Atom Araullo shared his difficulties in securing a ride from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s main gateway.

He said he was able to book a ride from a transport network vehicle service (TNVS) after a little less than two hours, after which he was faced with the traffic.

Just arrived at the airport from an overseas trip. No coupon taxis, no metered taxis, no Grab. Wala rin tayong mga bus at tren dito. Basically kung wala kang sundo, you’re dead. It’s been an hour and counting. This is what a broken transpo system looks like ????

— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) December 9, 2022

“[W]e are saddened to hear about your experience as the high demand due to rush hour combined with heavy traffic around the metro makes it difficult for any mode of public transport to get to and from the airport terminals,” it said in a tweet in response to Araullo.

Hi Mr. @atomaraullo, we are saddened to hear about your experience as the high demand due to rush hour combined with heavy traffic around the metro makes it difficult for any mode of public transport to get to and from the airport terminals.

— Ninoy Aquino International Airport (@MIAAGovPH) December 9, 2022

— Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News